Revived Her Teenage Passion = $1 Million in 4 Years

Sam Parr recently tweeted…

My mother in law… wanted to sell fancy throw pillows she was making.

I gave her very basic steps. Enough to get started.

Now…

A few years later, she’s done well over $1,000,000 in sales, has a small team, a cool brand, an office, repeat customers, and a thriving business.

The business is Smithy Home Couture by Smithe Sodine, selling via the website and on Etsy 🛍️

Smithe shared her story in a 2022 interview…

I’m a former elementary school ESL teacher and college instructor.

In 2020, I founded Smithy Home Couture, a handcrafted decorative pillow company. I design and manufacture custom luxury pillows, cushions and bedding. My clients are interior designers, homeowners, and home goods stores.

🧐 The origin story…

Working with textiles has been a constant thread in my life… 

At 16, my family immigrated to Florida [from Haiti]. Life as immigrants in the USA was both challenging and exciting. I didn’t speak any English, so I worked hard to graduate high school. I still loved sewing and wanted to pursue a career in the fashion industry.

But life happened and Smithe never got to follow her dream.

Until she became an empty nester and officially launched her business in February 2020 🚀

The timing was tough…

Unfortunately in March, New York City went into a covid-19 lockdown.

Launching the business became a real challenge, especially because I expected to sell most of my products in person.

💪 So she found another way…

I shifted gear and started an Etsy store. I took all the fabrics I had in my workroom home and started making pillows in my basement during the Covid-19 quarantine while also making much needed facial masks for friends and family.

Many of those friends and family became my first clients.

Since then…

I have grown steadily over the last two years. I quadrupled my revenues in the second year. I earned more than I ever did as a teacher (teachers are grossly underpaid).

Most importantly, now I have a team of three. My employees are skilled artisans. Together we make, pack, and ship hundreds of pillows and other items every week.

Four years on from that rough start, Smithe’s business has done more than $1 million in sales 💰

Amazing what a person can build in a short amount of time, even with very little experience as an entrepreneur.

Where might you be in a few years if you start now? 🤔